Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (3)Saxons
Hengist
Cerdick
Chardford
Belgae
Sigibert
Cumbra
Ethelbert
Danes
Winchester
Osric
Hampton, Earl of
Hamptonshire
county name
When the Saxons began to invade this Isle in the Declension of the Roman Empire, and had settled themselves in some Parts of it, the Britains kept this County subject to them for sixty Years after Hengist's first Landing; but Cerdick, the Founder of the West Saxon Monarchy landing in these Parts, and at a Place still bearing the marks of his Name, viz. Chardford, which our Antiquaries will have contracted from Cerdicksford, in the beginning of the sixth Century, and having defeated Natanleod, the potent King of the Britains, who governed in this part of the Isle, reduced all the Southern Shore, as far as the Danmonii, to his Authority and Dominion.
The Posterity of Cordick ruled this whole Country of the Belgae for several Generations, but at length this County was taken from it for a while, and made a petty Kingdom it self on this Occasion. Sigibert, King of the West Saxons, being a cruel and vicious Prince, was reproved for his faults lovingly, by his faithful Councellor Cumbra; but he was so far from accepting his good Advice, that he caused him to be slain, whereupon his Peers rose up in Arms against him and deposed him; but not being willing that he should live so ingloriously as to have no Authority at all, they assigned him the Government of this County; but he still continuing in his former Crimes, they expelled him out of these Parts too, and he fled into a Wood, called Andreads Would in Sussex, where he remained some Time; but at length one of Cumbra's shepherds finding him, and knowing who he was, slew him to revenge his Master's Blood.
In the Reign of King Ethelbert, Anno 860, the bloody Danes again entered the Land, ruinating all before them as far as the City of Winchester, which they sacked, pillaged, and destroyed; but as they were returning, Osric, Earl of Hampton, asisted with the Berkshire Men, encountred them, and having conquered them, recovered the Spoils of his Country, and slew a great Number of those barbarous Infidels.
After the Saxons had been settled some Time in these Parts, they divided the Country of the Belgae into three Shires, viz. That of Somerset, Wilts, and Hampton, and so called this County Hamptunscyre, i. e. Hamptonshire; and later Writers have melted it into Hamteschire, Hamteshire, and Hampshire: Mr. Camden says, the Saxons called it Hantescyr, but without Ground, and Florence of Worcester , terms it Hantunscyre, but by some Mistake, for the Saxon Annals call it Hamtunshire, and he transcribed from them.
Having thus given an Account of the County in general, under the several Changes of the Inhabitants, we shall now come to take a particular Survey of it, and beginnig with the West Side, shall keep to the Sea Coasts, taking Notice of the more inland Parts, which stand upon the Rivers that fall there, viz.
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